Box Score vs. Northwestern State  |  Box Score vs. Mississippi State

RICHMOND, Ky. – EKU began the 2023 season with a 3-1 win over Northwestern State before falling to host Mississippi State, 3-0, on Friday at the StarkVegas Classic in Starkville, Mississippi.
 
In the win over Northwestern State, newcomer Kambree Lucas led the team with 18 kills to go along with 18 digs and an ace.  She hit .484 for the match, finishing with just three errors in 31 attacks.  Josie Schmitendorf led all players with 22 digs and had a match-best three aces.  AG Vandagriff contributed 13 kills and two block assists.
 
With the first set tied 4-4, the Colonels rolled off an 8-1 run to gain control.  Paige Wagers had two kills during the spurt while Lucas put down three, her third making it 12-5.  A string of four unanswered allowed EKU to stretch the margin to 12 at 20-8.  Another kill from Lucas ended the first set 25-20.
 
Similar to the first set, the Colonels took control early, this time scoring five straight to turn a one-point deficit into a 10-7 lead.  EKU led the rest of the way and took a 2-0 lead when Carson Ledford served up an ace and Northwestern State had an attack error to end it 25-17.
 
The third set saw 13 ties and six lead changes.  The Colonels had match-point at 24-23, 25-24 and 27-26, but each time the Lady Demons responded.  NWSU scored the final three points to win the third 29-27 and stay alive.
 
EKU trailed 11-8 in the fourth set before using an 8-1 run to seize the advantage.  Vandagriff had a pair of kills during the run.  A kill off an attack from Sarah Mitchell capped it and had the Colonels out in front by four, 16-12.  Schmitendorf's final ace gave her squad match-point at 24-15.  Moments later a Northwestern State attack error ended the set 25-17 and gave EKU the win.
 
In the match against Mississippi State, Mitchell had a team-high nine kills.  Ledford contributed eight kills with just one error, a .500 attack percentage and four block assists.  Schmitendorf finished with 10 digs.  Mason had 14 assists and nine digs.
 
The opening weekend of the season concludes for the Colonels against Louisiana at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.